Information between 28th January 2024 - 23rd November 2024
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Speeches |
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Lord Stevens of Birmingham speeches from: Science and Technology: Economy
Lord Stevens of Birmingham contributed 1 speech (608 words) Thursday 31st October 2024 - Lords Chamber Department for Science, Innovation & Technology |
Lord Stevens of Birmingham speeches from: Ukraine
Lord Stevens of Birmingham contributed 1 speech (722 words) Friday 25th October 2024 - Lords Chamber Ministry of Defence |
Lord Stevens of Birmingham speeches from: UK-US Co-operation on Using Atomic Energy for Mutual Defence
Lord Stevens of Birmingham contributed 1 speech (1,166 words) Wednesday 23rd October 2024 - Grand Committee Ministry of Justice |
Lord Stevens of Birmingham speeches from: King’s Speech
Lord Stevens of Birmingham contributed 1 speech (779 words) Thursday 25th July 2024 - Lords Chamber Ministry of Defence |
Lord Stevens of Birmingham speeches from: Artificial Intelligence in Weapon Systems Committee Report
Lord Stevens of Birmingham contributed 1 speech (709 words) Friday 19th April 2024 - Lords Chamber Ministry of Defence |
Lord Stevens of Birmingham speeches from: Economic Activity of Public Bodies (Overseas Matters) Bill
Lord Stevens of Birmingham contributed 2 speeches (331 words) Committee stage Wednesday 17th April 2024 - Lords Chamber Cabinet Office |
Lord Stevens of Birmingham speeches from: Foreign Affairs
Lord Stevens of Birmingham contributed 1 speech (638 words) Tuesday 5th March 2024 - Lords Chamber Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office |
Lord Stevens of Birmingham speeches from: Economic Activity of Public Bodies (Overseas Matters) Bill
Lord Stevens of Birmingham contributed 1 speech (950 words) 2nd reading Tuesday 20th February 2024 - Lords Chamber Cabinet Office |
Lord Stevens of Birmingham speeches from: Holocaust Memorial Day
Lord Stevens of Birmingham contributed 1 speech (394 words) Friday 2nd February 2024 - Lords Chamber Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government |
Lord Stevens of Birmingham speeches from: Cancer Research: Funding Gap
Lord Stevens of Birmingham contributed 1 speech (73 words) Monday 29th January 2024 - Lords Chamber Department for Science, Innovation & Technology |
Written Answers | ||||||||||||
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Mental Health Services: Expenditure
Asked by: Lord Stevens of Birmingham (Crossbench - Life peer) Tuesday 2nd April 2024 Question to the Department of Health and Social Care: To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Statement by Lord Markham on 21 March (HLWS366), whether NHS England and integrated care board aggregate NHS mental health expenditure would still be expected to increase as a share of their total expenditure in 2024–25 compared with 2023–24 if "non-recurrent" expenditure is not excluded from the baseline calculation; and if not, whether they will itemise and quantify expected "non-recurrent" expenditure in both years. Answered by Lord Markham - Shadow Minister (Science, Innovation and Technology) The following table shows the spend on mental health in 2024/25 and 2023/24, the total National Health Service mandate, and the spend on mental health as a percentage of the mandate:
Source: NHS England. |
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The Gambia: Female Genital Mutilation
Asked by: Lord Stevens of Birmingham (Crossbench - Life peer) Monday 8th April 2024 Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office: To ask His Majesty's Government what representations they have made to the government of the Gambia concerning new legislation which would decriminalise female genital mutilation. Answered by Lord Benyon - Lord Chamberlain (HM Household) The UK Government, alongside our international partners, continues to have frank and open conversations with The Gambian Government, including the President and other Ministers, about the Bill to repeal the ban on FGM. On 19 March, the Foreign Secretary issued a tweet reinforcing the UK Government's position that FGM is harmful and should be illegal, and the Minister for Development and Africa spoke to the President about the repercussions of any vote in favour of FGM once again being permitted in The Gambia. |
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Mental Health Services: Finance
Asked by: Lord Stevens of Birmingham (Crossbench - Life peer) Wednesday 28th February 2024 Question to the Department of Health and Social Care: To ask His Majesty's Government when before 1 April they will confirm whether NHS mental health funding will increase as a share of overall NHS expenditure in 2024/25, as required by section 3(2) of the Health and Care Act 2022. Answered by Lord Markham - Shadow Minister (Science, Innovation and Technology) Information on mental health funding within the National Health Service will be made available once NHS planning guidance is published. |
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Hamas: Hostage Taking
Asked by: Lord Stevens of Birmingham (Crossbench - Life peer) Monday 29th January 2024 Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office: To ask His Majesty's Government what representations they have made to the International Committee of the Red Cross concerning securing access to Israeli hostages being held in Gaza. Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon Since October 7, the UK government has been working with relevant partners across the region, including the International Committee of the Red Cross, to help secure the release of hostages and better understand their status, including working to gain information on proof of life and access to medical professionals. As the Foreign Secretary has said, we need a humanitarian pause now to allow for the release of hostages. |
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South Africa: Development Aid
Asked by: Lord Stevens of Birmingham (Crossbench - Life peer) Monday 29th January 2024 Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office: To ask His Majesty's Government how much development assistance they have provided to South Africa over the past 10 years. Answered by Lord Benyon - Lord Chamberlain (HM Household) The UK's development assistance to South Africa promotes a strategic partnership with a focus on shared priorities including economic development, climate change, gender equality and strengthening health systems. South Africa still faces major development challenges - particularly around poverty, inequality and unemployment - and remains eligible to receive donor assistance. Since 2014 the UK has provided South Africa with £267,928,979 in development assistance as our relationship has evolved from one of aid to one of mutual co-operation and strategic partnerships. |
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Universities
Asked by: Lord Stevens of Birmingham (Crossbench - Life peer) Monday 29th January 2024 Question to the Cabinet Office: To ask His Majesty's Government when the Office for National Statistics will conclude its review of the classification of universities in the National Accounts, first announced in January 2017. Answered by Baroness Neville-Rolfe - Shadow Minister (Treasury) The information requested falls under the remit of the UK Statistics Authority.
Please see the letter attached from the National Statistician and Chief Executive of the UK Statistics Authority.
The Office for National Statistics is not responsible for making an assessment of the non-statistical impacts of classification decisions. Therefore, no such assessment has been made of other consequences.
The Lord Stevens of Birmingham House of Lords London SW1A 0PW
19 January 2024
Dear Lord Stevens of Birmingham,
As National Statistician and Chief Executive of the UK Statistics Authority, I am responding to your Parliamentary Questions asking when the Office for National Statistics (ONS) will conclude its review of the classification of universities in the National Accounts, first announced in January 2017 (HL1604). And further to the classification review of universities announced by the ONS in January 2017, what assessment we have made of the (1) fiscal, and (2) other, consequences of universities being reclassified as public bodies as a result of that review (HL1606).
The ONS regularly reviews legislation and guidance relating to a number of institutions, including universities, to determine whether any changes would have a potential impact on their sector classification. As such, the classification review of universities in the UK, first announced on 31 January 2017 [1] will consider whether the substantial rise in tuition fees from 2012, and other changes in funding arrangements affect the classification of universities.
A further statement on the classification review of universities in the UK was released on 5 April 2018 [2]. This statement explained that the classification review had been paused because of the announcement of the review of post-18 education and funding, which raised the possibility that the cap for tuition fees may be altered. As this could affect the classification status of individual universities, the statement confirmed the classification review would recommence when there is more certainty in this area.
It was necessary to further postpone the classification review of universities in the UK due to new higher priority classification cases, such as support schemes initiated during the COVID-19 pandemic, and more recently, the energy support schemes introduced in 2022 and 2023.
At present, the ONS plans to begin the classification review of universities in the UK from Quarter 2 (April – June) 2024. However, classification priorities can change quickly, and the expected dates of completion are only indicative. Our forward work plan 3 is updated each month to reflect changes in priorities. Table 1 shows the expected timetable for the classification review.
Table 1: Expected timetable for the classification review of universities [3]
Source: Forward Work Plan December 2023 (19 December 2023)
The ONS has not yet made an assessment of the fiscal consequences of universities being reclassified as public bodies. Within our forward work plan, for each of the four cases involved, we have provided an indication that the impact on fiscal aggregates could be small (less than £100 million change).
The ONS is not responsible for making an assessment of the non-statistical impacts of classification decisions. Therefore, no such assessment has been made of other consequences.
Yours sincerely, Professor Sir Ian Diamond
[1] Classification review of universities in the UK - Office for National Statistics (ons.gov.uk) [3] Economic statistics sector classification – Forward Work Plan dataset (XLSX, 128KB) |
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Universities
Asked by: Lord Stevens of Birmingham (Crossbench - Life peer) Monday 29th January 2024 Question to the Cabinet Office: To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the classification review of universities announced by the Office for National Statistics in January 2017, what assessment they have made of the (1) fiscal, and (2) other, consequences of universities being reclassified as public bodies as a result of that review. Answered by Baroness Neville-Rolfe - Shadow Minister (Treasury) The information requested falls under the remit of the UK Statistics Authority.
Please see the letter attached from the National Statistician and Chief Executive of the UK Statistics Authority.
The Office for National Statistics is not responsible for making an assessment of the non-statistical impacts of classification decisions. Therefore, no such assessment has been made of other consequences.
The Lord Stevens of Birmingham House of Lords London SW1A 0PW
19 January 2024
Dear Lord Stevens of Birmingham,
As National Statistician and Chief Executive of the UK Statistics Authority, I am responding to your Parliamentary Questions asking when the Office for National Statistics (ONS) will conclude its review of the classification of universities in the National Accounts, first announced in January 2017 (HL1604). And further to the classification review of universities announced by the ONS in January 2017, what assessment we have made of the (1) fiscal, and (2) other, consequences of universities being reclassified as public bodies as a result of that review (HL1606).
The ONS regularly reviews legislation and guidance relating to a number of institutions, including universities, to determine whether any changes would have a potential impact on their sector classification. As such, the classification review of universities in the UK, first announced on 31 January 2017 [1] will consider whether the substantial rise in tuition fees from 2012, and other changes in funding arrangements affect the classification of universities.
A further statement on the classification review of universities in the UK was released on 5 April 2018 [2]. This statement explained that the classification review had been paused because of the announcement of the review of post-18 education and funding, which raised the possibility that the cap for tuition fees may be altered. As this could affect the classification status of individual universities, the statement confirmed the classification review would recommence when there is more certainty in this area.
It was necessary to further postpone the classification review of universities in the UK due to new higher priority classification cases, such as support schemes initiated during the COVID-19 pandemic, and more recently, the energy support schemes introduced in 2022 and 2023.
At present, the ONS plans to begin the classification review of universities in the UK from Quarter 2 (April – June) 2024. However, classification priorities can change quickly, and the expected dates of completion are only indicative. Our forward work plan 3 is updated each month to reflect changes in priorities. Table 1 shows the expected timetable for the classification review.
Table 1: Expected timetable for the classification review of universities [3]
Source: Forward Work Plan December 2023 (19 December 2023)
The ONS has not yet made an assessment of the fiscal consequences of universities being reclassified as public bodies. Within our forward work plan, for each of the four cases involved, we have provided an indication that the impact on fiscal aggregates could be small (less than £100 million change).
The ONS is not responsible for making an assessment of the non-statistical impacts of classification decisions. Therefore, no such assessment has been made of other consequences.
Yours sincerely, Professor Sir Ian Diamond
[1] Classification review of universities in the UK - Office for National Statistics (ons.gov.uk) [3] Economic statistics sector classification – Forward Work Plan dataset (XLSX, 128KB) |
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Universities: Health
Asked by: Lord Stevens of Birmingham (Crossbench - Life peer) Thursday 19th September 2024 Question to the Department for Education: To ask His Majesty's Government which scientific criteria they apply in deciding whether an educational institution can describe itself as a Health Sciences University; whether these criteria could apply to an institution teaching homeopathy and other alternative therapies; and which peer-reviewed research or externally-assessed teaching the Office for Students relied upon in deciding to allow the Anglo-European College of Chiropractic and University College of Osteopathy to rebrand themselves as the Health Sciences University. Answered by Baroness Smith of Malvern - Minister of State (Education) When a provider requests to change its name, a strict criteria and assessment process is followed. The provider will already have undergone considerable scrutiny when being awarded Degree Awarding Powers (DAPs), including input from quality experts, drawn from the sector, to test the provider against multiple criteria. Indefinite DAP’s status is the main eligibility test for providers to be able to go through the title process.
In this instance, the provider gained degree awarding powers in 2016 and so was able to apply for university title as per the rules set out in the Office for Students’ (OfS) ‘Regulatory advice 13: how to apply for university college and university title’, which is attached and also available at: https://www.officeforstudents.org.uk/publications/regulatory-advice-13-how-to-apply-for-university-college-and-university-title/#:~:text=and%20university%20title-,Regulatory%20advice%2013%3A%20How%20to%20apply%20for%20university%20college%20and,as%20part%20of%20their%20name.
The department and the OfS were notified in September 2023 regarding the provider changing its name. When considering the proposed new name for a provider, the OfS must have due regard to the need to avoid names that are, or may be, confusing. In addition, in the instance of the newly named Health Sciences University, the OfS operated an open consultation on the proposed name. This ran from 22 February 2024 to 21 March 2024, and determined the regulator's final decision. The OfS approach is set out in their case report ‘Approval of proposed new name for AECC University College - Office for Students’, which is attached and can also be found at: https://www.officeforstudents.org.uk/publications/approval-of-proposed-new-name-for-aecc-university-college/.
In addition to the OfS process, regulations brought into force under the Companies Act 2006 means that the department has responsibility for confirming that it has no objection to the use of the sensitive word ‘university’ in a business name. The OfS published approval of the proposed new name from ‘AECC University College' to 'Health Sciences University’ in July 2024. The department then considered the request from the provider to change its name to ‘Health Sciences University’ and was satisfied that the use of the word ‘university’ was appropriate in this context. The department had no objection to the use of the term ‘university’ in the proposed business name ‘Health Sciences University’ and issued the provider with a non-objection letter on 18 July 2024.
During this consultation the OfS did not receive any responses questioning the merit of the subject area(s) of the provider. |
Parliamentary Debates |
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Defence Policy: Deterrence
24 speeches (7,066 words) Thursday 31st October 2024 - Grand Committee Ministry of Defence Mentions: 1: Lord Balfe (Con - Life peer) I was struck last Friday in our debate when the noble Lord, Lord Stevens of Birmingham, pointed out that - Link to Speech |
NHS: Long-term Sustainability
66 speeches (28,716 words) Thursday 18th April 2024 - Lords Chamber Department of Health and Social Care Mentions: 1: Lord Patel (XB - Life peer) Several noble Lords—the noble Lords, Lord Stevens of Birmingham and Lord Darzi, the noble Baronesses, - Link to Speech 2: Baroness Ramsey of Wall Heath (Lab - Life peer) bedside”.Whatever comes next for the NHS, it is clear that, when it is properly funded—as the noble Lord, Lord - Link to Speech |
Economic Activity of Public Bodies (Overseas Matters) Bill
79 speeches (17,630 words) Committee stage Wednesday 20th March 2024 - Lords Chamber Cabinet Office Mentions: 1: Baroness Neville-Rolfe (Con - Life peer) stray into decisions that could threaten academic freedom, as helpfully highlighted by the noble Lord, Lord - Link to Speech |
Economic Activity of Public Bodies (Overseas Matters) Bill
104 speeches (41,496 words) 2nd reading Tuesday 20th February 2024 - Lords Chamber Cabinet Office Mentions: 1: Lord Collins of Highbury (Lab - Life peer) do so because we recognise, as many noble Lords have said in the debate, including the noble Lord, Lord - Link to Speech 2: Baroness Neville-Rolfe (Con - Life peer) Stevens of Birmingham and Lord Verdirame. - Link to Speech 3: Baroness Neville-Rolfe (Con - Life peer) However, as the noble Lord, Lord Stevens of Birmingham, highlighted, boycotts and divestments against - Link to Speech |
Parliamentary Research |
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House of Lords: Maiden and valedictory speeches, 2022–2024 - LLN-2024-0052
Sep. 19 2024 Found: Whatever comes next for the NHS, it is clear that, when it is properly funded —as the noble lord, Lord |
Department Publications - News and Communications |
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Friday 24th May 2024
Department for Transport Source Page: New Maritime and Coastguard Chair appointed Document: New Maritime and Coastguard Chair appointed (webpage) Found: Lord Stevens of Birmingham Kt brings extensive experience as a senior leader in the public and private |
Non-Departmental Publications - News and Communications |
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May. 24 2024
Maritime and Coastguard Agency Source Page: New Maritime and Coastguard Chair appointed Document: New Maritime and Coastguard Chair appointed (webpage) News and Communications Found: Lord Stevens of Birmingham Kt brings extensive experience as a senior leader in the public and private |